Victim identified in fatal Hwy. 26 head-on crash near Warm Springs

A 69-year-old California woman was killed in a two-vehicle head-on crash Monday afternoon that closed U.S. Highway 26 for close to two hours at the eastern border of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Oregon State Police said.

The crash was reported shortly around 3:20 p.m. at milepost 106, at a bridge over the Deschutes River just east of Warm Springs, said OSP Lt. Bill Fugate.

Early information indicates a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle driven by Linda L. Cushing, 69, of Fullerton, Calif., was heading east on the highway when she crossed the center line and the VW collided head-on with a westbound 2014 Chevy Tahoe. Both vehicles came to rest on the highway, he said.

Cushing pronounced dead at the crash scene, Fugate said..

The driver of the SUV, Susan Atkins, 61, of Madras, and passenger Virginia Atkins, 88, also of Madras, were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Madras for treatment of minor injuries, the lieutenant said.

Highway 26 was closed in both directions for about 90 minutes before one lane was opened, flagged in alternating directions.

Fugate said the investigation is continuing and more information will be released as it becomes available.